More than 700 colleagues, friends and family, including about 150 judges, attended a memorial tribute today for the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer on Law Day at his beloved Ohio State University.
The ceremony included a procession of robed judges from the federal bench, Ohio courts and out-of-state courts led by the Pipes and Drums of the Cleveland Police.
In recognizing Chief Justice Moyer’s significant contributions in a remarkable life dedicated to civility, public service and the rule of law, each of the six current Justices offered their personal reflections on the Chief. Former Justices and other national and state judicial and legal leaders offered personal tributes in addition to a video tribute. Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee also offered remarks.
Some speakers chose to highlight his longevity, his jurisprudence, his administrative accomplishments. Many more focused on his character as a judge, a leader and a person.
“With a leadership style that is best described as a gentle hand from behind, he sought for us to encourage civility, work tirelessly, be patient to a fault, and commit ourselves fully to serving the greater good at the expense of ourselves,” said Supreme Court Administrative Director Steven C. Hollon, who served under Chief Justice Moyer for more than 10 years.
At the time of his death on April 2, Chief Justice Moyer was the longest-serving current Chief Justice in the country, having served for more than 23 years as Chief Justice, and the second longest-serving Chief Justice in the history of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
There was probably no better place to say goodbye one last time than the new Ohio Union on campus. Chief Justice Moyer’s 50-year relationship with Ohio State began in the late 1950s as an undergraduate student. A native of Sandusky, he earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Ohio State in 1961 and 1964, respectively.
His numerous awards include recognition as one of 40 outstanding alumni in 1987, at Ohio State’s 300th commencement. He also served as chair of the OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1997-99. Additionally, Chief Justice Moyer received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Ohio State in 1993. Most recently, he served as summer quarter commencement speaker on Aug. 30.
During the event, Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham announced that Chief Justice Moyer had been posthumously awarded the Harry L. Carrico Award for Judicial Innovation for 2010 from the National Center for State Courts.
The National Anthem was sung by Calvin Griffin of the OSU Glee Club. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Adrian McElmore, Rondeisha Finney and Alex McFarland, members of the Vision Youth Advisory Board. Dr. Richard Ellsworth, pastor emeritus of the Central College Presbyterian Church, offered the opening and closing prayers.
Remarks were also offered by Dean Alan Michaels of the Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University; The Honorable Robert M. Duncan, a former federal judge and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of Ohio; Judge Sheila Farmer of the Ohio 5th District Court of Appeals and chair of the Ohio Judicial Conference; Barbara Howard, president of the Ohio State Bar Association; Nancy Rogers, former Ohio Attorney General and OSU professor of law; Stephen P. Anway, former law clerk to Chief Justice Moyer; and Mrs. Mary Moyer.
Members of the OSU Men’s and Women’s Glee Club led the assembly in the singing of Carmen Ohio.
A memorial page decided to Chief Justice Moyer, including a selection of tributes from people across Ohio and the United States, is available at www.sc.ohio.gov.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.
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